Chapter 690: The Man-Eating Checkpoint

"Oh, how terrifying is it?"

Li Heng asked calmly.

For others, the more terrifying a place was, the more interested he became; he wouldn't even go if it weren't terrifying, as one couldn't harvest much Source Power in peaceful and tranquil places.

"Do you not believe me? I can tell you, that place is a battlefield where flesh and blood fly everywhere. Countless powerhouses have headed there, but they are like mud oxen entering the sea, unable to stir up much of a storm..."

The Artifact Spirit warned Li Heng.

"I don't need you to tell me how serious or terrifying it is over there; I only want to know what is there, what it looks like, and what secrets it harbors."

Li Heng responded casually, interrupting the Artifact Spirit's warning.

The Artifact Spirit was silent for a moment, then continued to speak.

"Since you insist, I will not stop you. Let's put it this way: there is a checkpoint over there, and the End of Time and Space of the Time-Space Mother River lies within that checkpoint. Many powerhouses of the Great Void have headed to that checkpoint, entered it, and then not a single one has been able to return."

Li Heng pondered upon hearing this. Not a single one could return? Is this truly a checkpoint, or some unspeakable, man-eating thing?

"According to what you say, there is a checkpoint there, but why do you also say it is a battlefield where flesh and blood fly? Since you say no one can return after entering the checkpoint, you shouldn't know what exists inside the checkpoint either."

To Li Heng's question, the Artifact Spirit answered readily.

"Because that checkpoint is not something anyone can enter; those who can enter must fight outside the checkpoint to obtain a limited number of spots, which is why it is called a battlefield where flesh and blood fly."

"I see. Then what is the reason for these powerhouses to enter the checkpoint?" Li Heng asked, appearing thoughtful.

"I am not clear on this, because powerhouses who can successfully reach the Terminal River Section of the Time-Space Mother River, and even truly stand at the end, such as my master, are almost impossible to move by any external objects."

"In this situation, I also do not know why."

The Artifact Spirit answered, looking slightly bewildered.

Its master was peerless and suppressed the ages; even when fighting outside the checkpoint, she was unrivaled and could be called self-strengthening. Yet, after entering the checkpoint, she still could not return and could not transmit any information.

Having lost the protection of its master, even though it was a peerless treasure, it could not withstand the covetous gazes of many powerhouses, and in the end, it could only flee here in disgrace during a great battle.

"Are you sure you don't know? For example, some clues."

Li Heng raised his eyebrows and said.

A checkpoint standing at the End of Time and Space that can attract so many powerhouses to enter must have some reason, such as the existence of some challenge or a heaven-sent opportunity?

Even if it were a trap, it should be an attractive trap.

"This... I remember now. One day, my master had a sudden whim and told me that a sense had appeared in the dark, and then she came to the End of Time and Space of the Time-Space Mother River."

"This sense might be related to this matter."

The Artifact Spirit was silent, and soon, seemingly remembering something, continued to speak.

"Are you sure you haven't remembered it wrong?"

"This is the only thing that can be called a clue."

The Artifact Spirit answered frankly.

"Then what is your master's strength, compared to the strength I am currently displaying?" Li Heng continued to ask.

"My master is two levels higher than the strength you are displaying."

The Artifact Spirit answered, not daring to lie.

"No specific realm name?"

Li Heng raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Naturally, there is none. Ever since advancing to Sacred, one is walking their own path; how could there be a universal realm name? One can only roughly categorize strength."

"However, my master once told me that she seemed to be following in the footsteps of an existence known as a Dao Lord. But I am puzzled, what is a Dao Lord?"

As the Artifact Spirit spoke, it became puzzled.

Li Heng was slightly surprised; it even knew about the Dao Lord? However, from these words, it could be roughly seen that although the Artifact Spirit's master was strong, she was still below a Dao Lord, and the path she walked should also be an alternative Dao Lord Path, not the Transcendence Path.

This could not help but make him shake his head.

Why are the vast majority of peerless powerhouses encountered now walking this path instead of the Transcendence Path? The ratio is too outrageous; no wonder it is said that the Transcendence Path is an Outer Path.

"Alright, most of the questions have been asked, and there is no rush for the remaining small portion. Now I have one last question: can you still head to the End of Time and Space of the Time-Space Mother River?"

"I want you to act as a boat and carry me there."

Hearing these words, the Artifact Spirit could not help but be stunned.

It asked in confusion, "I do have the ability to head to the End of Time and Space of the Time-Space Mother River, but I do not want to go again; it is truly too tragic and terrifying there. And I do not know why you ask this; with your strength, you could go by yourself, right?"

A fireball shattering the Gong Dian's defenses, a punch piercing through the maze—this strength was clearly on the same level as its master; how could it still need it to act as a boat?

Li Heng spoke with a smile.

"Since one can take a vehicle, why walk?"

He would not tell the Artifact Spirit that his cultivation was as weak as it appeared on the surface, and that the reason he could unleash such terrifying power relied entirely on Source Power and the Great Void Power invoked and blessed by the Reincarnation Dao Lord.

However, this situation did not matter to him.

In any case, his Visualization Divine Ability and Source Power were his own things. Moreover, the terrifying battlefield derived from the fighting of many powerhouses near the End of Time and Space was also very suitable for him to harvest Source Power; by then, his own hard strength could also improve rapidly.

"Can I not go? I can tell you the Route Map; with your strength, as long as you walk on the correct route, you will soon reach the End of Time and Space." The Artifact Spirit was silent for a while, then answered with a weak voice.

"Oh, that kind of place still requires a correct route?"

Li Heng asked, becoming interested.

Unexpectedly, the Artifact Spirit appeared strange and asked back bluntly.

"Otherwise? If there were no correct route, who could reach the end of the Time-Space Mother River? Anyone with that kind of ability would likely already have power comparable to the entire Time-Space Mother River."

"Then what is this so-called correct route?"

Li Heng frowned, somewhat surprised.

He had originally thought that the powerhouses who reached the Terminal River Section of the Time-Space Mother River should all be able to conquer the Time-Space Mother River and reach it by crossing infinite distances; he did not expect it to be just taking a shortcut?

"First, use some hidden, wondrous Nodes to jump; only in this way can one cross the distance that is fundamentally impossible to cross and come to the Terminal River Section of the Time-Space Mother River, and only after entering the checkpoint can one be considered to have truly reached the End of Time and Space."

"But looking at you, why do you seem a bit strange? You don't think that anyone can activate these Nodes and anyone can cross them, right? For example, those Gong Dian Menial Servants—even the strongest among them is not qualified to activate these Nodes."

The artifact spirit explained.

"It is merely lowering the expectations."

Li Heng's expression did not change as he answered after hearing this.

"There is no time to lose now, let us leave immediately."